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proper, a pleasant word or two wishing him easy sleep. There were any number of innocent reasons why the lady of the keep would fail to appear, but her husband would have been quick to offer such explanations. |
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Unsure of whether or not his asking for Sir Peter's wife would arouse suspicion, Ian followed Sir Peter without comment, even when they turned into the stairwell. Normally, a guest, even an honored guest, would be housed in a chamber on the main floor. Women did not like strange men in the upper chambers where the maids and, if they were present, gently born maidens, were too available. |
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When they emerged from the stairwell, Sir Peter turned. "My wife is away," he said. "Her mother ails and she has taken the children to see their grandmother. I am no hand at housewifery, so I hope you will pardon me for making things easy for myself. I have given you our chamber. I know it is comfortable." |
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"I would have been comfortable anywhere, but I thank you." |
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The excuse was reasonable. Ian felt it would have had more of a ring of truth if it had been mentioned earlier, but altogether Sir Peter was so poor a liar that Ian grew more uncertain about his ill intentions the more lies he told. Sir Peter shepherded him solicitously through the doorway and into the bedchamber, gesturing toward the waiting maids and telling Ian to ask them for anything that was lacking. |
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"I did not know what to tell them to prepare. I suppose they know, but if there is more you need or want, tell them and they will fetch it for you." He paused a moment and looked away. "Do you want a woman?" |
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"No," Ian replied promptly, not because he was celibate when parted from his wife but because, more than ever, he needed privacy to think. It was an odd suggestion. His friends might make him such an offer, but it was a little unexpected from his wife's castellan. |
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